Leonard is the sixth Spur to be named to the All-Rookie First Team. This marks the 10th time in team history that San Antonio has placed a player on any All-Rookie team.

Appearing in 64 games (39 starts) this season, Leonard averaged 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 1.1 assists in 24.0 minutes of action. His 39 starts marked the most by a rookie under San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich since Tony Parker’s 72 starts during the 2001-02 season.

Popovich praised Leonard as having defensive instincts similar to Bruce Bowen, a lockdown defender whose absence was magnified after his retirement. Leonard guarded an assortment of top players ranging from point guards like Steve Nash to power forwards like Blake Griffin.

Leonard, who scored in double figures 24 times during the regular season, shot .493 (199-404) from the floor and .376 (41-109) from three-point range. Among NBA rookies, Leonard ranked third in steals, third in field goal percentage, fourth in rebounding, fifth in 3-point percentage and 13th in scoring. He posted four double-doubles on the season and was one of just four rookies to record four-or-more double-doubles.

Here is a list of San Antonio selections to the NBA’s All-Rookie teams over the years:

2011-12 – Kawhi Leonard First Team

2010-11 – Gary Neal First Team

2009-10 – DeJuan Blair Second Team

2002-03 – Manu Ginobili Second Team

2001-02 – Tony Parker First Team

1997-98 - Tim Duncan First Team

1989-90 – David Robinson First Team

1989-90 – Sean Elliott Second Team

1988-89 – Willie Anderson First Team

1987-88 – Greg Anderson Only one team

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first-team votes and one for second-team votes.